4Th annual LouFest Music Festival kicks off in Forest Park

ST. LOUIS (KMOV.com) – C3 Presents and Listen Live Entertainment present the 4th annual LouFest Music Festival this weekend in Forest Park. This year the festival is bigger than ever with more bands, more stages and bigger crowds.

The organizers of the event have booked 30 bands to be involved with the event. From powerhouse headliners The Killers and Wilco to a strong mid-card lineup including Alabama Shakes, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, Local Natives, Icona Pop, Jim James, and The National, organizers anticipate this year to be the most successful yet.

Ben Cohen, LouFest co-founder, told News 4 last September that the additional stages and stronger lineup will allow the festival to “make an impact beyond St. Louis.” The organizers hope to make LouFest “a regional and then, ultimately, national event” that will be recognized much like other C3 events Lollapalooza and Austin City Limits.

LouFest is not just a music festival, but a local showcase of what St. Louis has to offer. Patrons can indulge their taste buds in the "Nosh Pit" with food and drinks from local eateries. The “Market Square” offers up a space for local designers and artists to feature and sell their work. And, in a partnership with St. Louis Earth Day, the festival supports the “Rock ‘N Recycle” rewards program.

The first notes of the 4th annual LouFest begin at noon today when Kentucky Knife Fight and Jukebox The Ghost each take to a stage. The festival runs noon until 10:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

You can see the full lineup and ticketing information on the LouFest website.